Champéry
Origin of the name Champéry
The form « Champery » is attested in 1286. An older mention, « champeirie » in 1180, is not confirmed. The name would combine a Latin personal name, « campărĭus » (the field warden), with the suffix -acum of Celtic origin, designating a family's estate, though this is not established. Folk etymology sees in it the « field » (champ) of a certain Péry, depicted on the coat of arms. In the local patois the municipality is reportedly called « Tsanpirey ».[1]
Founding of Champéry
Champéry is a street village surrounded by scattered settlement in the upper Val d'Illiez, on the border with France. A Neolithic hoe and Roman coins have been found there, and the valley is thought to have been settled during the Migration Period. In the Middle Ages the fiefs of the Val d'Illiez were shared among several noble vassals of the Counts of Savoy, including the Châtillon-Larringes, the Arbignon and the Montheolo. The inhabitants enjoyed a degree of autonomy, which they had to defend after the arrival of the Upper Valais men in 1536. They bought out their feudal dues in 1715. Long part of the community of Val-d'Illiez, Champéry was separated from it in 1839 and became a parish in 1854.[1]
History of Champéry
1286. Mention « Champery ».[1]
1436. Mention of the chapel of Saint-Théodule, dependent on the parish of Val-d'Illiez.[1]
1536. After the conquest of Lower Valais by the Upper Valais men, the inhabitants defend their privileges, including the right to propose the candidate for the office of castellan and the management of common property.[1]
1715. The population buys out its feudal dues.[1]
1723. The chapel receives its own priest.[1]
1725. The chapel is built in Baroque style. Its free-standing bell tower survives.[1]
1790. Revolt against the Upper Valais bailiffs in Monthey, which makes Pierre-Maurice Rey-Bellet, whose role has been overstated, a local hero.[1]
1839. Champéry separates from Val-d'Illiez and becomes an independent municipality.[1]
1851. Whole families emigrate to Algeria, then to Argentina in 1861.[1]
1854. Champéry becomes a parish.[1]
1857. Construction of the first hotel, reportedly the Hôtel de la Dent-du-Midi.[1]
1865. The completion of a road brings a rapid rise in tourism.[1]
1898. A new church is built. Another new building follows in 1966.[1]
1969. Champéry reportedly takes part in creating the Portes du Soleil ski area. The link project presented in 1964 at the National Exhibition in Lausanne already included Champéry.[5]
Population of Champéry
Sources and references: [1][2]
| 1798 | 405 |
| 1850 | 619 |
| 1860 | 503 |
| 1900 | 704 |
| 1950 | 861 |
| 2000 | 1'107 |
| 2025 | 1'413 |
Historic sites in Champéry
Baroque bell tower. Free-standing tower of the chapel of Saint-Théodule built in 1725, kept after the old building was demolished. Together with the house known as la cure, this bell tower is a cultural property of regional importance. It has reportedly been protected since 1974.[1][4]
Church of Saint-Théodule. The chapel mentioned in 1436 was replaced by the Baroque building of 1725, then by new buildings in 1898 and 1966.[1]
Hôtel de la Dent-du-Midi. The village's first hotel, built in 1857, whose exact name is not certain, was the starting point of tourism in Champéry.[1]
Remains in Champéry
Early finds. A Neolithic hoe and Roman coins have been discovered in the municipal territory.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Champéry » (Fabrice Clément, version de 1998 remaniée le 24.05.2005, version allemande)
- Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, chiffres provisoires au 31.12.2025, via citypopulation.de
- geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (coordonnées)
- Office fédéral de la protection de la population (OFPP), Inventaire PBC, liste cantonale du Valais (objets A et B, état au 1.1.2026)
- Les Portes du Soleil, « A human story » (histoire du domaine depuis 1964)
Other villages near Champéry
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